I wanted to duck into the shadows, but I had to remind myself that I wasn’t me, at least not to these four Guardians. I didn’t know any of them, which was good. I also didn’t know what the relationship was between Guardians and elven embassy guards, and I wasn’t keen to find out. Being a captain—but mostly being male—I decided that direct eye contact was called for. Not confrontational, but not evasive, either. The Guardians went with a give-us-an-excuse-to-beat-the-crap-out-of-you look.

So much for Guardian/embassy guard relations.

As we approached each other on the narrow sidewalk, the Guardians didn’t make room for me to pass. I knew what was coming, so when we passed each other and one of the Guardian’s shoulders rammed into mine, my shoulder met him halfway and just as hard. He grunted with the impact. I didn’t. I also didn’t get a dagger between the shoulder blades once I was past them. I guess according to man rules that meant I’d won.

It was just after midnight, but the elven embassy still looked like it was expecting a full-scale attack at any moment. Taltek Balmorlan must be feeling a little insecure this evening. He had Piaras. No one had me. That had to make the inquisitor just a tad bit nervous. He knew what I was capable of, and he knew how I felt about Piaras. The guards patrolling the battlements looked ready to shoot the first thing that moved wrong. I made sure I was moving as much like Captain Baran Ratharil as I knew how when I crossed the street and approached the embassy gates.

There were a major and two lieutenants on duty in the small guardhouse next to the warded gate. I saluted the major and ignored the lieutenants. It felt like what Ratharil would do. The major responded with a sharp salute, as did the lieutenants after they’d snapped to attention. A disciplined and alert group of guys. Just what I didn’t need.

While I waited for the ward to open to admit me, I tried to clear my mind of me, Piaras, and the desire to strangle Taltek Balmorlan and kick Giles Keril’s bony butt from here to the harbor. I was Captain Baran Ratharil, it had been a long day, it was after midnight, and I was tired.

The ward parted just enough to let me in.

“Ratharil!” It was the major.

Damn. I stopped midstride.

“Ambassador Keril has been asking for you for the past hour.” The major grinned and chuckled. “I think he’s lost his reading spectacles again. You’re to go straight to his office.”

I saluted again, this time with less enthusiasm. “Yes, sir.”

I went through the wards and they closed behind me with a sizzle. Forget Keril—I was going to kick Tanik’s crew’s butts from here to the harbor. Thanks to them, I was now Captain Baran Ratharil—the ambassador’s lackey.

Logic, Raine. Just use logic.

I was inside the embassy in an overly ornate, marble-floored reception hall, and I had absolutely no idea where Keril’s office was. Not that I had any intention of going there, but since I was trying to avoid Keril, it’d be good to know where the little weasel was.

Continuing to stand there looking confused would attract attention I didn’t need. I’d been inside one or two government offices before. This was basically the same thing, I told myself; it was just a little fancier than I was used to. In my limited experience, the first floor was for reception and underlings’ offices. The important people worked upstairs—or in Keril’s case, the self-important people.

Piaras was upstairs.

I took a deep breath, adjusted myself, and started up the stairs.

At the top the first flight was a wide corridor, and the walls down both sides were covered floor to ceiling in massive mirrored panels. No doors, just mirrors. Crap.

Naturally, the stairs to the next floor were at the other end. I started walking, and tried to keep my mind off who or what could be lurking on the other side of any mirrored panel. I took a casual glance at my reflection. Yep, still the captain.

“Baran, where have you been?”

I nearly jumped out of my borrowed skin. I recognized the voice, which was the only reason my dagger was still in my hand instead of embedded in the elven ambassador. For all I knew, Ratharil may have wanted to kill his boss, but I didn’t think now was a good time to do it, as much as I’d like to.

Giles Keril stood just inside an open panel. The mirrors concealed the doors to offices.

That was just wrong.

I smoothly sheathed my dagger. “Forgive me, Your Excellency. You startled me.”

Keril’s eyes were a little wide. “When did you start carrying throwing knives?”

“Since this evening, sir. I felt it was prudent considering the circumstances.”

“Quite true.” He swallowed. “You are wise to be so well prepared.”

I inclined my head respectfully. “Thank you, sir. I understand you have been looking for me. My apologies for keeping you waiting. My errand took longer than I expected.”

“I’ve lost my reading spectacles again and I can’t find them.”

I swore silently and followed him back into his office, and went through the motions of looking around. From the looks of things, Keril wasn’t a patient man. He’d essentially trashed his own office. I hoped he didn’t expect me to clean it up.

“Have you looked in all the usual places where you’ve left them before?” I kept my voice casual, as if I had all the time in the world for this.

Keril shot me an indignant look. “Of course.”

One of my hands curled into a fist. “Have you been outside of your office today, in another part of the embassy?”

“I’ve had several meetings.”

“Where, if I may ask?”

“Down the hall earlier this afternoon, and upstairs this evening.”

Upstairs. Perhaps Giles Keril wasn’t a colossal waste of my time.

“Have you searched either place?”

“No, I was certain they were here.”

“Sir, I would be glad to check both locations for you, if you would like.”

“I can look upstairs, if you would take Symeon’s office down the hall,” Keril suggested. “I believe he’s gone for the evening but his assistant can let you in.”

No way, no how. “Sir, you’ve searched your office very thoroughly.” I made a show of looking around at the disaster that was Keril’s office. “And you must be exhausted from what happened this evening.”

The little elf cleared the papers from his office chair and sat down with a sigh. “I am quite fatigued.”

“Then I insist on going upstairs for you. Was your meeting on the top floor?”

“Yes.”

“Did you have your spectacles with you then?”

Keril beamed in realization. “Why yes, I did. It’s been so hectic tonight that I’d forgotten. Inquisitor Balmorlan needed my signature on a prisoner extradition document. I would have needed my spectacles to sign it.”

Son of a bitch.

“Then I’m certain your spectacles are still there.” I smiled at him. “If not, I promise I’ll turn this place upside down until I find what I’m looking for.”

There were two guards on duty on the top floor. One was leaning back in a chair at the end of the hall; the other was walking toward me. A captain. Good. No salutes needed.

“Evening, Baran,” he said as he passed me.

Sometimes it was nice to be recognized.

“Evening,” I replied.

“And make it strong,” the other guard yelled.

“Yeah, yeah, Rance. I hear you. Next time, you’re going for the damned coffee.”

It didn’t take any acting for me to look tired, but amiable took some work. I saw what Rance and Captain Whoever were guarding. The last room on the right was layered and crackling with wards. Somebody had laid them on thick.

Piaras was in there. I knew it.

From the bars on his uniform, Rance was also a captain—and a prison mage. All they did was ward and guard. Chances were he’d constructed those wards himself, and if I tried to take them down, the alarms would bring everyone in the entire compound.